The reason
for bringing up the story here is, being a Malayalee, I have often been
misquoted as a Communist in the other states or the countries where I have
lived most of my time. For example in Mumbai where I lived for more than two
decades people used to ask me ‘Are you a Communist?’ when introduce myself from
the state of Kerala. I have seen many eyebrows
are getting raised when I responded with No, I am not. Though I was not one, Communism
was the way of life in Kerala.
All these
years it has never came into my mind why I haven’t been a Communist. But today,
after living in my home state for the last three years, I have come to a
conclusion that I can’t be a Communist. I have nothing against the party. In
fact it is one of the political parties that have helped my state to achieve whatever
progress in the last 60 years.
As I have
mentioned the word progress, it is better we indulge in some reality check. I
am still confused with whether to refer Communist Party of India-Marxist as a
national party. A party that has no hold in any state other than Kerala and
West Bengal can fit into that category is a subject to be debated. Now take the
case of West Bengal. It is the one state in India where the Communists ruled
uninterruptedly for more than three decades, exactly to be 34 years. It is a party claims to be working for the upliftment
of downtrodden. If that claims holds any
water, their leaders must go for an introspection when it comes to the living condition
of the rural areas of West Bengal. The self-made Bengal savior Mamta Bannerjee
is a product of this pathetic condition. I don’t believe Madam Mamta can never
be a substitute for a party like Communist in Bengal. Still people have voted
her to power. Any grey-haired Communist
head has rolled in Bengal? No. I don’t think.
Let us turn
our focus to Kerala, where people live red, eat red, sleep red and dream
red. Can anyone of their leaders answer
my question? That is….. If there was no government change in every five years,
would have we achieved whatever progress we witness today in our state? If your
answer is YES, then you must also answer why it has not happened in West
Bengal. If you say NO then credit goes to the government that has followed your
rule. I am not favouring any party. But
truth cannot be hidden forever. I must say, Congress is the most efficient
party in India with most corrupted people. That is the destiny of Indian
people. If Kerala has achieved anything it is all due to the government change
and policies of the progressive governments.
The government that follows has to continue the policies of earlier one
which makes the progress automatic.
Communism was
need of a time. Once the need has been
met there must be a change in its policies which includes the ideology too.
There is a saying, Even if you are
on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there. A party, its policies, its ideology must
change as the time demands. That’s what Sri Sri Ravi Shankar was meant to say.
But his comments were taken out of context and a big hue and cry was made by
some top level leaders of CPM of Kerala. They want Ravi Shankar to mind his own
business (yoga). I don’t know why these
people are becoming intolerant when someone trying to correct them. Maybe this is the reason why the young
generation is keeping away from Communist Party. From two and half states in
the country you have reduced to one and half now. Hope a lesson will be learned
from this.
Contribution
by Communist in Kerala’s development is all together a different story. I will
keep that for my next post.
